Card printing machine and type inking apparatus



CARD PRINTING MACHINE AND TYPE INKING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1965 H 0 R C 5 mM K MW W6 5 M 5 W M u w 1 W 0 L01 H E L l 37 2 Z 6 E "A m 7 1 4 0 M? /6 5 T 6 I l I I I l I I I I I 1 I: m 1m 111111111111 71 5 .1 J w /n mu 0 u. "a u 4 JWvIIHI klll v. vim." 1 2 u v II I f 5 llllliu &5 W w m MGM ,drrom/a March 26, 1968 w. F. GOODRICH 3,374,733

CARD PRINTING MACHINE AND TYPE INKING APPARATUS v Filed March 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 136 13A 54 150 154 Q llljglllllllllx lg 140 I E E E Elgi INVENTOR. MZL/A'M 6000/P/0V March 26, 1968 w. F. GOODRICH 3,374,733

CARD PRINTING MACHINE AND TYPE INKING APPARATUS Filed March 22, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. MLL/AM F 6000mm United States Patent 3,374,733 CARD PRINTING MACHINE AND TYPE INKING APPARATUS William F. Goodrich, Adrian, Mich., assignor to The Signpress Company, Adrian, Mich., a corporation of Illinois Filed Mar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 441,582 6 Claims. (Cl. 101269) The invention relates to card printing machine and type inking apparatus and more particularly to a machine or apparatus of this character especially adapted for printing show cards, signs, posters and the like.

Heretofore in the use of card printing apparatus of this general character wherein type are disposed upon a bed and a printing carriage moved over a card adjacent the type, it has been a practice to employ a hand inking roller for inking the type between successive printing operations. In such operation, the operator first moves a hand roller over a flat or planar inking pad or ink supply surface, and then applies the ink'bearing roller over the type faces and in engagement therewith to transfer ink to the type faces. Such inking arrangement requires a high degree of skill on the part of the operator to assure disposition or transfer of the proper amount of ink to the type faces.

Another method of applying ink to type is shown in Williams Patent 2,942,544. In the arrangement shown in this patent a flat circular ink supply platform is engaged by inking rolls mounted upon a carriage, thelatter being movable over the platform whereby the rollers on the carriage acquire ink and upon movement of the carriage over the type the inking rolls transfer ink to the type faces. In an arrangement of the character shown in the Williams patent, there is no ink distributing means for the inking rolls. Furthermore, such construction requires a circular platen equal to the width of the type bed and, as the inking platform is horizontal, it is prone to collect dust resulting in contamination of the ink utilized in the printing operation The present invention embraces the provision of a card printing machine and type inking apparatus embodying a printing carriage movable over the type supporting area to effect printing operations on a card or the like and an inking carriage embodying inking rolls engageable with an ink supply surface rotated in a manner to effect efiicient transfer of ink to the inking rolls.

Another object of the invention resides in an inking device for a sign printing machine embodying an ink supply cylinder associated with means for automatically distributing ink on the surface of the ink supply cylinder to assure desired distribution of ink on the supply cylinder for transfer onto type inking rolls.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an ink supply cylinder which is rotated by motive means during inking operations for assuring transfer of an adequate supply of ink to the type inking rolls with a minimum of attention on the part of the operator.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a relatively movable means for distributing ink over an ink supply cylinder wherein the distributing means is arranged for adjustment to vary the distribution of ink on an ink supply cylinder in areas engaged by the ink transfer rolls wherein certain type to be inked require heavier inking than type in other regions on the type bed.

Another object of the invention embraces the provision of an inking carriage provided with a plurality of ink transfer rolls wherein each roll is mounted in a manner to assure ink transferring contact with an ink supply cylinder to provide effective transfer of ink onto type and thereby secure more satisfactory printing.

3,374,733 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 Another object of the invention resides in an ink supply cylinder and an ink distributing member operated by motive means to provide for effective transfer from the ink supply cylinder to ink transfer rolls without requiring manipulation upon the part of the operator.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a card printing machine and type inking apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the card printing machine and type inking apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the inking apparatus with the ink transfer carriage removed;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of a traverse means forming a component of the construction shown in FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE '7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating the traverse assembly for an ink distributing means;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 7 with certain parts broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 9 is an isometric view illustrating an end frame of the inking carriage and one of the ink transfer rolls, and

FIGURE 10 is an isometric view illustrating an adjustable mounting means for the ink distributing means.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIG- URES l and 2, there is illustrated a form of card printing machine and the inking apparatus of the invention. The card printing machine or apparatus includes a support means or frame 10 which is of generally rectangular shape and is integral with a type supporting bed or platen 12 providing a type supporting area upon which type 14 may be positioned in assembly for card printing purposes, the type being held in position by conventional means.

The type are mounted upon type aligning bars 15 which are removable, the end regions of the type aligning bars extending into slots provided at the respective ends of the type supporting bed 12. The frame 10 is inclusive of two parallel side members 11, welded to or integrally formed with the bed portion 12 and extending lengthwise of the printing machine. The bed portion or platen 12 is provided at its longitudinal edge regions with members or bars 18 overhanging the side rails 11, the portions or bars 18 being accurately machined and dimensioned to form parallel tracks or ways to accommodate and support both a printing carriage 22 and a type inking carriage 24, both carriages being reciprocable lengthwise of the type bed 12 along the tracks 18.

The printing carriage 22 is of the general character shown in my co-pending application Ser. No. 362,309. The carriage 22 comprises a frame structure having end plates or members 26 secured in spaced relation by transversely extending rods 28. Journally mounted between the end plates is an impression or printing roll 30 mounted by eccentric means (not shown) whereby the impression roll 30 is movable into and out of card printing position by means of a handle 32.

The end plates 26 are equipped with sets of rollers 34 and 36 for engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of the tracks or ways 18 whereby the printing carriage 22 may be moved lengthwise of the type bed 12 for effecting card printing operations. The tracks or ways 18 extend in a left-hand direction, as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2, substantially beyond the type bed 12 to accommodate an initial position of the printing carriage 22 removed from the area of the type bed to facilitate positioning cards to be printed adjacent the type disposed on the bed 12.

The left-hand ends of the tracks 18 as viewed in FIG- URES 1 and 2 are provided at their upper surfaces with ramps 40 to assure that the pressure or impression printing roll 30 is in its elevated position when the carriage is moved to out of printing position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the handle 32 serving to elevate the impression roll 30.

Card clamping means is provided for holding one end of a card during printing operations. As shown in FIG- URE 1, a plurality of card clamping fingers 42 are mounted in a manner to resiliently engage an edge region of a card placed contiguous with the type bed 12.

Release of the card clamping fingers 42 is effected through manipulation of a lever 44 provided with a manipulating handle or pad portion 46. Downward pressure on the pad 46 by the operator swings the lever 44 to effect upward movement of the resilient card clamping fingers 42 to release a card. In effecting a printing operation, the printing carriage 22 is movable across a card disposed contiguous with the platen 12 and above the type 14, the carriage being movable full length to a position such as indicated at broken lines at 22a in FIGURE 2 to effect printing operations.

The type inking apparatus of the invention is mounted by a support means or frame 50 which may be integral with the printing machine frame or the support means may be separable from the frame 10. In the arrangement illustrated in the drawings, the support frame 50 of the inking apparatus is adapted to be removably secured to the support frame 10. The inking apparatus includes an ink supply member, cylinder or roll 52 and a relatively reciprocable ink distributing roll 54, both rolls being rotated during type inking operations, the ink on the cylinder 52 being transferred by wiping contact with type inking or ink transfer rolls mounted upon the type inking carriage 24.

The support means 50 is inclusive of longitudinally extending side members 56 joined by a bottom plate or member 58 which may be welded to or integrally cast with the side frame members 56, the latter being in substantial parallelism. The support means 50 may be provided with spring members or clips 60, each clip being fashioned to provide a projection 61 received in a slot or opening 62 in the side frame members 11 of the support means 10, as shown in FIGURE 3.

Mounted up each of the side frame members 56 are journal brackets 64 secured in place by screws 65. Each bracket 64 is provided with a bearing bushing 67, the bushings providing journal bearings for the end regions of a shaft 68 upon which is mounted the ink supply roll or cylinder 52. The cylinder 52 is preferably of metal and is adapted to receive ink applied to the exterior surface of the cylinder by a brush or applicator employed by the operator thereby providing an ink supply for the type inking or transfer rolls.

Mounted upon the shaft 68 is a sprocket 70 fixedly secured to the shaft. The sprocket 70 is connected by a chain 72 with a drive sprocket 74 mounted upon an output shaft 76 of a speed reducing mechanism of conventional character contained within a housing 78, the gearing in the housing 78 being driven by a motive means such as an electrically energizable motor 80.- The ink supply roll 52 is driven at a comparatively low speed for transferring ink onto type inking or ink transfer rolls hereinafter described.

The inking carriage 24 for transferring ink from the ink supply cylinder 52 onto the face of type 14 on the 4 bed 12 is inclusive of end plates 84 arranged in spaced relation as shown in FIGURE I joined together by tie rods or members 86, one of which is illustrated in FIG- URE 9, the ends of the tie rods 86 having threaded portions 87 to receive securing nuts for securing the end plates 84 to the tie rods. Each of the tie rods 86 provides a journal support for rollers 88 adapted to engage the upper surfaces of the tracks or ways 18 which extend full length of the support means or frame 50, shown FIG- URES l and 2.

Each of the end plates 84 is fashioned with threaded openings 90 to receive screws 92 preferably of nonmetallic material such as nylon, adapted to be adjusted whereby the ends of the screws are close to the lateral edges of.

the ways or tracks 18 to prevent endwise movement of the inking carriage 24 with respect to the tracks 18. Each of the end plates 84 is fashioned with vertically disposed slots or recesses 94 as particularly shown in FIGURES 4 and 9. The inking carriage 24 is equipped with three ink transfer or type inking rolls 96 formed of rubber or other suitable ink transferring materials.

Each rubber roll 96 is mounted upon a shaft 98, the end regions of each of shafts 98 extending into the slots 94, the vertical slots providing for independent vertical movement of each of the ink transfer rolls 96.

Fixedly mounted upon the end regions of shafts 98 adjacent the ends of ink transfer rolls 96 are rolls or collars 100 which are disposed to engage the upper horizontal surfaces of the tracks 18 to determine the lowermost positions of the rolls 96 so that they properly engage the faces of type 14 on the bed 12 to transfer ink onto the type.

It will be noted in FIGURE 4 that the normal position of the rolls 96 is such that the diameter of each roll is of a dimension that when the inking carriage 24 is-moved I over the ink supply cylinder 5-2, each of the rolls 96 will be individually engaged with the periphery of the cylinder 52 which, being rotated, transfers ink onto each of the rolls 96. Each of the rolls 96 will acquire ink from contact with the ink-covered surface of the cylinder 52 as each roll is elevated slightly while it is being rotated through frictional engagement with the periphery of the cylinder 52 during movement of the carriage over the ink supply roll.

The inking carriage 24 includes a cover 104 formed of sheet metal or molded plastic having inwardly extending flanges 106, shown in FIGURE 4, the flanges engaging in slots 108 formed in the end plates 84, one of the slots being shown in FIGURE 9. The cover member 104 is slidable lengthwise to engage the flanges 106 in the slots 188. The cover is provided with a handle 110 supported by brackets 111 secured to or forming a part of the cover 104.

The carriage 24 is movable lengthwise along the ways or tracks 18 for transferring ink from the supply cylinder 52 through the medium of the inking rolls 96 onto the face of type 14 mounted on the type bed 12.

The apparatus of the invention is inclusive of means for distributing the ink over the cylindrical surface of the ink supply cylinder 52. The ink distributing means or member 54 is mounted to effect reciprocation thereof lengthwise of the cylinder 52. Disposed adjacent the inner surfaces of each of the sidewalls 56 is an arm 115, shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 10. One end of each of the arms 115 is pivotally supported upon a screw 117, each ofthe screws 117 having a head portion 118 eccentric with respect to the threaded portion of the screw 117 as shown in FIGURE 10. The eccentric head 118 of each of the screws is snugly yet rotatably received in an opening in the adarrangement the pivotal support for each of the arms 115 may be adjusted for a purpose hereinafter explained. Each of the arms 115 is provided with a vertically disposed slot 120 adapted to receive tenons 122 and 123 provided at the respective ends of a shaft 125, shown in FIGURE 5, the shaft being supported by the arms 115.

The tenon 122 is of square cross section and the width or dimension of the tenon 122 between flat parallel surfaces of the square cross section is such as to be snugly yet slidably received in the vertical slot 120 in one of the arms 115 with the opposing side walls 126 of the slot engaging opposing flat surfaces of the tenon 122 to prevent rotation of the shaft 125.

The ink distributing means 54 includes a rubber cylindrical member 130 surrounding a metal suport sleeve or tube 132, the latter having its inner diameter larger than the diameter of the shaft 125.

Telescoped into each end of the sleeve 132 are bushings or hearing members 134 and 136, the bearings providing for relative rotation of the bearings, metal tube 132 and rubber member 130 on the shaft 125. The bushing 134 and a portion of the shaft 125 are provided with cooperating means whereby the ink distributing roll 130, the supporting sleeve 132 and the bearings 134 and 136 are reciprocated lengthwise of the shaft 125 during rotation of the ink distributing member 130. As particularly shown in FIGURE 5, a portion of the shaft 125 is provided with a multiple return groove 140.

A follower member 142, shown in FIGURE 6, has a bifurcated configuration to fit in the multiple return groove 140, the follower member 142 being carried by the bearing bushing 134 in a manner shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. The follower member 142 is fashioned with a central tenon portion 144 which is of a dimension to be slidably received through a slot 146 formed in the bearing bushing 134 as shown in FIGURE 8. At the inner end of the slot 146, the bearing bushing 134 is provided with a threaded opening 148 to accommodate a threaded collar 15! V The central bore 152 in the collar 150 is of a size to receive the tenon 144 on the follower 14-2 to accommodate rotational movement of the follower 142 about the axis of the tenon 144 during movement of the follower 142 in the multiple return groove 140. An opening 154, shown in FIGURE 7, is providedin the tube 132 in registration with the threaded opening 148 to accommodate assembly of the threaded collar 150 with the bushing 134. The collar 152 is fashioned with transverse kerfs 156, shown in FIGURE 8, to facilitate threading the collar 152 into the threaded bore 148.

The method of assembling the constructions shown in FIGURE 5 is as follows: The bearing bushings 134 and 136 are pressed into the respective end regions of the metal sleeve 132. The bushing134 is disposed in the tube 132 with the threaded opening 148 in the bushing in alignment with theopening 154. The bifurcated portion of the follower 142 is then inserted in the groove 140 and the tenon 144 moved lengthwise through the slot 146 until the tenon is centered with the threaded opening 148 in the bushing 134. The threaded collar 150 is then threaded into the opening 148 with the tenon 144 of the follower in the hollow central region or bore of the collar 150.

The rubber sleeve 130 is then stretched over the periphery of the metal tube 132 to occupy the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. The rubber roll 130 is rotated by frictional engagement with the exterior surface of the supply cylinder 52.

During rotation of the supply cylinder 52, the sleeve 130 is rotated and the shaft 125 remains stationary by reason of the engagement of the square cross section of tenon 122 in a slot 120 in an arm 115. The follower 142 being carried by the rotating sleeve 132, traverses the multiple return groove 140 to reciprocate the rubber ink distributing member 130 lengthwise of the shaft 125 and lengthwise of the ink supply cylinder 52.

Means is provided for moving the ink distributing roll 130 into and out of engagement with the peripheral surface of the ink supply cylinder 52 and for adjusting the extent of angularity of the distributing roll with respect to the surface of the ink supply cylinder 52 to provide for an increased amount of ink in certain areas of the ink supply roll 52 to provide adequate inking of type face where type may be concentrated in one area of the type bed 12 to assure satisfactory inking of the faces of type. Extending in parallelism with the axis of the shaft 68 is a shaft or rod 160, shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 10, journaled in openings formed in the side walls 56 of the housing 50.

Each member 115 is fashioned with a recess 162, as shown in FIGURE 10. Mounted on the shaft adjacent the recess 162 in each of the members 115 is an eccentric member 164. Each of the members 164 is individually adjustable on the shaft 160 and is held in adjusted position by means of a setscrew 166. Mounted upon a portion of shaft 160 extending exteriorly of one of the housing side walls 56 is a crank 168 secured on the shaft 160 by a setscrew 169.

Mounted on the crank or crank arm 168 is a manipulating knob 170 to which is secured a projection or detent 172, the knob 170 and detent 172 being movable relative to the crank arm 168 and axially of the shaft 160 to engage the detent 172 in an opening in the adjacent side wall 56 of the housing to maintain the distributing roll 130 in engagement with the ink supply cylinder 52. The knob 170 is spring biased by conventional means (not shown) to normally urge the projection or detent 172 into the opening in the side wall of the housing. When the detent 172 is engaged in the opening in the wall of the housing, the roll 130 is in engagement with the surface of ink supply cylinder 52 so as to distribute ink lengthwise of the cylinder 52.

When it is desired to withdraw the ink distributor roll 130 from engagement with the ink supply cylinder 52, the operator withdraws the knob 170 forwardly to withdraw the detent 172 from the opening in the housing wall after which the crank 168 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, rotating the eccentric members 164 and allowing the members 115 to swing in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot screw 117 to lower the ink distributing roll 130 out of engagement with the periphery of the ink supply cylinder 52.

By adjusting the position of the distributing roll 130 at a very slight angle to the axis of the ink supply cylinder 52, the distributionof ink lengthwise of the ink supply cylinder 52 may be varied so as to provide increased amount of ink in one surface region of the cylinder 52 for transfer to the inking carriage rolls for inking type at a region of type concentration on the type supporting bed 12. Thus, the operator may adjust one or both the eccentric members 117 to effect a change in the pivotal axis of the adjacent member 115 and thus effect a slight angular change in the position of the ink distributing roll 130.

The circuit for the motor 80, driving the ink supply roll 52 includes a conventional manually operated switch 173, shown in FIGURE 3 and a limit switch 174 provided with a spring biased switch arm 175. As shown in FIG- URE 4, when the inking carriage 24 is moved to its extreme right-hand position shown in FIGURE 4, a rod 86 of the carriage engages the arm to actuate the limit switch and de-energize the motor 80, the limit switch 174 being in series with the manually operated switch 173. The circuit of the motor 80 and switches 173 and 174 are supplied with current from conventional supply conductors designated L1 and L2 in FIGURE 3.

The successive operations of the printing apparatus and inking apparatus are as follows: The operator first positions type 14 on the type bed 12 with the printing carriage 22 and the inking carriage 24 adjacent the respective ends of the printing apparatus in the positions 7 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The operator then manipulates the switch 173 to motor energizing position and moves the carriage 24 a short distance away from the limit switch arm 175 thus energizing motor 80 rotating the ink supply roll or cylinder 52.

The operator then manipulates the handle 170 to free the detent 172 from an opening in the side wall 56 of the housing and swings the am 168 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 to move the ink distributing roll 130 out of engagement with the ink supply cylinder 52. The operator then applies a quantity of printing ink to the peripheral surface of the ink supply cylinder 52 by a brush or other applicator while the cylinder 52 is rotating. The operator then moves the crank arm 168 by means of a handle 170 to the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 to engage the surface of the distributing roll 130 with the peripheral surface region of the ink supply roll 52.

Upon frictional engagement of the roll 130 with the surface of the cylinder 52 the roll 130 is rotated through such frictional engagement and is reciprocated under the influence of the multiple return groove 140 in the shaft 125, the length of travel or reciprocation of the roll 130 being the linear distance of the grooved portion of the shaft 125. The reciprocation and rotation of the roll 130 distributes the ink over the surface of the ink supply roll 52.

While the ink supply roll 52 is rotating, the operator grasps the handle of the inking carriage 24 and moves the carriage in a left-hand direction as viewed in FIG- URES l, 2 and 4. As the carriage moves over the ink supply cylinder 52, the ink transfer rolls 96 successively engage the inked surface of the cylinder 52 and each of the transfer rolls acquires a coating or film of ink. The operator continues movement of the inking carriage 24 to move the ink transfer rolls 96 over the type 14 on the bed 12 whereby the faces of the type receive a coating of ink from the transfer rolls 96, the carriage being moved to the position shown in broken lines at 24:: in FIGURE 2.

After the type has been thus inked by the transfer rolls, the carriage 24 is moved in a right-hand direction to its initial position shown in full lines in FIGURE 2 beyond the end of the type bed 12 and beyond the ink supply cylinder 52. The operator then manipulates the card clamp control member 46 to release the card clamp and affixes a card beneath the clamping fingers 42 with the card disposed above the type 14 on the type bed 12. The operator then moves the printing carriage 22 in a right-hand direction as viewed in FIGURES l and 2 until the impression roll 30 is free of the ramp 40, the operator then manipulating the handle 32 to lower the impression roll 30 to engage the upper face of the card to be printed.

The printing carriage is then moved lengthwise along the ways or track 18 to press the card into engagement with the inked faces of the type 14 on the bed 12, the carriage being moved to the position shown in broken lines at 22a. When the carriage reaches this position, the operator manipulates the handle 32 to raise the impression roll 30 so that it does not engage the card to be printed on the return movement of the printing carriage to its initial position.

The operator then moves the printing carriage to its initial position, shown in full lines in FIGURES l and 2. The card clamping fingers 42 are then elevated by manipulating the control member 46 and the printed card re moved from the printing machine. This cycle or sequence of operations is performed in printing each individual card. In the event that the operator desires to temporarily stop the rotation of the ink supply roll 52, the inking carriage 24 is moved to its extreme right-hand position as shown in FIGURE 4 whereby it engages the limit switch arm 175 to actuate the switch 174 and de-energize the motor 80. a a

As shown in FIGURE 4, the ink transfer rolls 96 are of diameters substantially less than the diameter of the ink supply roll 52, and when the transfer rolls 96 engage the peripheral surface of the cylinder 52 which is being rotated by the motor 80, the ink transfer rolls are frictionally rotated by the roll 52 so that the transfer rolls acquire a film of ink throughout their entire peripheral surfaces.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. In a card printing and type inking apparatus, in combination, support means including a type supporting bed, parallel track means mounted on the support means at edge regions of the type supporting bed, a printing carriage mounted on the track means for reciprocable movement over the type supporting bed, card clamping means disposed adjacent one end region of thetype supporting bed for securing a card in position to be printed, a type inking carriage mounted on said track means for reciprocable movement independently of the printing carriage over said type supporting bed, a type-engaging inking roll on said inking carriage mounted for rotatable movement, an ink supply roll journally mounted on the support means, an electrically energizable motor, means establishing a drive connection between the motor and the ink supply roll for rotating the ink supply roll, a shaft, an ink distributing roll of less length than the ink supply roll rotatably mounted on said shaft and engageable with the ink supply roll and adapted to be rotated thereby, and cooperating means between the shaft and ink distributing roll to effect reciprocation of the ink distributing roll during rotation thereof, said type-engaging inking roll being disposed to engage the surface of the ink supply roll during reciprocable movement of the type inking carriage adjacent the ink supply roll.

2. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, frame means, track means supported by the frame means, a type inking carriage mounted on said track means for movement along the track means, an ink supply cylinder journally mounted on the frame means, an electrically energizable motor rotating the ink supply cylinder, an ink distributing roll of lesser length than the ink supply cylinder engageable with the periphery of the ink supply cylinder and adapted to be driven thereby, a shaft journally supporting the ink distributing roll, cooperating means on the shaft and ink distributing roll for effecting reciprocatory movement of the ink distributing roll relative to the ink supply cylinder during rotation of the cylinder, ink transfer rolls mounted on said carriage for individual rotative movements, said ink transfer rolls being posi tioned on the carriage whereby each roll successively engages the periphery of the rotating ink supply cylinder during movement of the carriage adjacent the cylinder.

3. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, frame means, track means supported by the frame means, a type inking carriage mounted by and movable along said track means, an ink supply cylinder journally supported by said frame means, an ink distributing roll of lesser length than the ink supply cylinder, a nonrotatable shaft supporting the ink distributing roll, a pair of pivotally mounted arms supporting said nonrotatable shaft, relatively movable means engageable with the arms for moving the arms to engage and disengage the ink distributing roll with the periphery of the ink supply cylinder, a multiple return groove in said shaft, a follower carried by the ink distributing roll engaging in said groove to effect reciprocation of the ink distributing roll when the latter is rotated by the ink supply cylinder, and a plurality of ink transfer rolls rotatably mounted on said type inking carriage and disposed for successive engagement with the ink supply cylinder during movement of the carriage over the ink supply roll to effect transfer of 9 ink from the ink supply cylinder onto the ink transfer rolls.

4. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, frame means, track means supported by the frame means, a type inking carriage mounted by and movable along said track means, an ink supply cylinder journally supported by said frame means, an ink distributing roll of lesser length than the ink supply cylinder, a nonrotatable shaft supporting the ink distributing roll, a pair of pivotally mounted arms supporting said nonrotatable shaft, a rod rotatably supported adjacent said arms, means on said rod engageable with the arms for moving the arms to engage and disengage the ink distributing roll with the periphery of the ink supply roll, means to effect reciprocation of the ink distributing roll when the latter is rotated by the ink supply cylinder, eccentric means providing pivotal supports for said arms, said eccentric means being adjustable to vary the angularity of the shaft relative to the axis of rotation of the ink supply cylinder, and a plurality of ink transfer rolls mounted on said type inking carriage for successive engagement with the ink supply cylinder during movement of the carriage adjacent the ink supply roll to effect transfer of ink onto the ink transfer rolls.

5. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, frame means, track means supported by the frame means, a type inking carriage mounted by and movable along said track means, an ink supply cylinder journally supported by said frame means, an ink distributing roll of lesser length than the ink supply cylinder, a nonrotatable shaft supporting the ink distributing roll, a pair of pivotally mounted arms supporting said nonrotatable shaft, a rod rotatably supported adjacent said arms, means on said rod engageable With the arms for moving the arms to engage and disengage the ink distributing roll with the periphery of the ink supply cylinder, a multiple return groove in said shaft, a follower carried by the ink distributing roll engaging in said groove to effect reciprocation of the ink distributing roll when the latter is rotated by the ink supply cylinder, eccentric means providing pivotal supports for said arms, said eccentric means being adjustable to vary the angularity of the nonrotatable shaft relative to the axis of rotation of the ink supply roll, and a plurality of ink transfer rolls mounted on said type inking carriage and disposed for successive engagement With the ink supply roll during movement of the carriage adjacent the ink supply roll to effect transfer of ink onto the ink transfer rolls.

6. In a card printing and type inking apparatus, in combination, support means including a type supporting bed, parallel track means mounted on the support means at edge regions of the type supporting bed, a printing carriage mounted on the track means for reciprocable movement over the type supporting bed, card clamping means disposed adjacent one end region of the type supporting bed, a type inking carriage mounted on said track means for reciprocable movement independently of the printing carriage over said type supporting bed, a plurality of rotatable type-engaging inking rolls carried by said inking carriage, an ink supply roll journally mounted on the support means, motive means, drive means connecting the motive means with the ink supply roll for rotating the ink supply roll, said type-engaging inking rolls being disposed to successively engage the surface of the ink supply roll during reciprocable movement of the type inking carriage adjacent the ink supply roll, an ink distributing roll of lesser length than the ink supply roll, a shaft supporting the ink distributing roll for rotatable movement, said ink distributing roll being engageable with the ink supply roll to effect rotation of the ink distributing roll, said shaft having a multiple return groove therein, and means carried by the ink distributing roll engaging in said groove to effect reciprocable movement of the ink distributing roll lengthwise of the shaft during rotation of the ink distributing roll.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,584,256 5/1926 Temmen 101-348 1,898,605 2/1933 Vandercook et a1. 101-247 2,642,799 6/1953 Ford et al 101-247 X 2,653,537 9/ 1953 Peyrebrune 101-352 2,991,713 7/ 1961 McFarland 101-348 2,992,609 7/1961 Roozee 101-354 3,087,422 4/1963 Harding 101-357 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

H. P. EWELL, J. R. FISHER, Assistant Examiners. 

6. IN A CARD PRINTING AND TYPE INKING APPARATUS, IN COMBINATION, SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A TYPE SUPPORTING BED, PARALLEL TRACK MEANS MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT MEANS AT EDGE REGIONS OF THE TYPE SUPPORTING BED, A PRINTING CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON THE TRACK MEANS FOR RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT OVER THE TYPE SUPPORTING BED, CARD CLAMPING MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT ONE END REGION OF THE TYPE SUPPORTION BED, A TYPE INKING CARRIAGE MOUNTED ON SAID TRACK MEANS FOR RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT INDEPENDENTLY OF THE PRINTING CARRIAGE OVER SAID TYPE SUPPORTING BED, A PLURALITY OF ROTATABLE TYPE-ENGAGING INKING ROLLS CARRIED BY SAID INKING CARRIAGE, AN INK SUPPLY ROLL JOURNALLY MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT MEANS, MOTIVE MEANS, DRIVE MEANS CONNECTING THE MOTIVE MEANS WITH THE INK SUPLY ROLL FOR ROTATING THE INK SUPPLY ROLL, SAID TYPE-ENGAGING INKING ROLLS BEING DISPOSED TO SUCCESSIVELY ENGAGE THE SURFACE OF THE INK SUPPLY ROLL DURING RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT OF THE TYPE INKING CARRIAGE ADJACENT THE INK SUPPLY ROLL, AN INK DISTRIBUTING ROLL OF LESSER LENGTH THAN THE INK SUPPLY ROLL, A SHAFT SUPPORTING THE INK DISTRIBUTING ROLL FOR ROTATABLE MOVEMENT, SAID INK DISTRIBUTING ROLL BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INK SUPPLY ROLL TO EFFECT ROTATION OF THE INK DISTRIBUTING ROLL, SAID SHAFT HAVING A MULTIPLE RETURN GROOVE THEREIN, AND MEANS CARRIED BY THE INK DISTRIBUTING ROLL ENGAGING IN SAID GROOVE TO EFFECT RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT OF THE INK DISTRIBUTING ROLL LENGTHWISE OF THE SHAFT DURING ROTATION OF THE INK DISTRIBUTING ROLL. 